President Pratibha Patil inspecting the guard of honour paid to her by women battalion of Manipur police upon her arrival at Imphal's Tulihal airport on Thursday afternoon. (Newmai News Network Photo)
Imphal | March 10 : The President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil, arrived in Imphal today on her maiden two-day visit to the State devoid of the customary fanfare and savoir faire associated with the highest office of the country. She landed at Tulihal Airport here at about 1:30 pm on a special flight. Her visit has been overwhelmed by the presence of heavily armed security personnel manning sensitive areas, particularly the road between the airport and Raj Bhavan following a boycott called by a consortium of three influential underground outfits based in Manipur under the umbrella organisation of Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF).
At the airport, a guard of honour was extended to the visiting first citizen of India by all-women battalion of Manipur police led by SDPO Pushpa Angeli. Manipur Governor Gurbachand Jagat, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, cabinet ministers, top rung Assam Rifles officials, police and other high ranking bureaucrats were present to welcome the president.
Revolutionary Peoples’ Front/Peoples’ Liberation Army (RPF/PLA) , United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and Peoples’ Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) under the consortium of Manipur Peoples’ Liberation Front (MPLF) have called a 40-hour statewide general strike as a mark of dissent and the rejection that Manipur is a part of India. The general strike had a paralyzing impact on the State with commercial establishments downing their shutters and schools and offices calling the day off. Inter- and intra-district transport systems were also suspended for the day.
After the 15-minute reception ceremony at the airport, the President was driven directly to Raj Bhavan, located about 7 km away from the airport under heavy military and police presence. Although there was no apparent plan for the president to meet media delegations today, she was expected to have an audience with representatives of some civil organizations, mostly women through the remaining part of the day. INA (retd) Colonel K Ringshi of Ukhrul, Dr Ibetombi, Chairperson, Manipur State Women Commission, Rose Mangshi, President, Kuki Mothers’ Association and representatives of Nupi Lal Memorial Association etc are expected to have met the President today, said an informed source.
Our source further informed that a variety of cultural program is planned at Raj Bhavan today to enthrall the visiting first citizen. Different communities of Manipur will be performing traditional dance before the president. On the second and last day tomorrow, the President’s itinerary will take her to a journey to Mantripukhri and Lamphel in the outskirts of Imphal to lay foundation stones for the construction of Information Technology Park and National Institute of Information Technology respectively.
Imphal | March 10 : The President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil, arrived in Imphal today on her maiden two-day visit to the State devoid of the customary fanfare and savoir faire associated with the highest office of the country. She landed at Tulihal Airport here at about 1:30 pm on a special flight. Her visit has been overwhelmed by the presence of heavily armed security personnel manning sensitive areas, particularly the road between the airport and Raj Bhavan following a boycott called by a consortium of three influential underground outfits based in Manipur under the umbrella organisation of Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF).
At the airport, a guard of honour was extended to the visiting first citizen of India by all-women battalion of Manipur police led by SDPO Pushpa Angeli. Manipur Governor Gurbachand Jagat, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, cabinet ministers, top rung Assam Rifles officials, police and other high ranking bureaucrats were present to welcome the president.
Revolutionary Peoples’ Front/Peoples’ Liberation Army (RPF/PLA) , United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and Peoples’ Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) under the consortium of Manipur Peoples’ Liberation Front (MPLF) have called a 40-hour statewide general strike as a mark of dissent and the rejection that Manipur is a part of India. The general strike had a paralyzing impact on the State with commercial establishments downing their shutters and schools and offices calling the day off. Inter- and intra-district transport systems were also suspended for the day.
After the 15-minute reception ceremony at the airport, the President was driven directly to Raj Bhavan, located about 7 km away from the airport under heavy military and police presence. Although there was no apparent plan for the president to meet media delegations today, she was expected to have an audience with representatives of some civil organizations, mostly women through the remaining part of the day. INA (retd) Colonel K Ringshi of Ukhrul, Dr Ibetombi, Chairperson, Manipur State Women Commission, Rose Mangshi, President, Kuki Mothers’ Association and representatives of Nupi Lal Memorial Association etc are expected to have met the President today, said an informed source.
Our source further informed that a variety of cultural program is planned at Raj Bhavan today to enthrall the visiting first citizen. Different communities of Manipur will be performing traditional dance before the president. On the second and last day tomorrow, the President’s itinerary will take her to a journey to Mantripukhri and Lamphel in the outskirts of Imphal to lay foundation stones for the construction of Information Technology Park and National Institute of Information Technology respectively.
